Former opener Wasim Jaffer feels that the legendary Rahul Dravid should continue to nurture young talents and build India’s bench strength as the head of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.
Jaffer’s comments came amid the speculations that the BCCI may elevate current NCA chief Dravid as coach.
Notably, Ravi Shastri’s contract is due to end after the completion of T20 World Cup 2021 in UAE in October-November and Dravid is currently travelling as head coach with the national team for the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka.
According to Jaffer, however, Dravid shouldn’t be pushed to become full-time India coach going forward.
"He is going as a coach of this Indian team to Sri Lanka. I'm sure those youngsters will benefit a lot. I personally feel that he shouldn't push to become the coach of the national team. I feel that he needs to work with these India u-19 players and India A players at the NCA. I think the international players who play in the Indian team are a finished product," he said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Jaffer believes Dravid’s mentorship can be more useful for the youngsters rising through the ranks.
"But Rahul Dravid's mentorship and guidance are more needed at the u-19 and India A level. His guidance is crucial for them to achieve the next level. So I think he needs to stay at the NCA for a longer period of time for our bench strength so that it keeps growing stronger," he further opined.
It is pertinent to note here that Rahul Dravid was the coach of the Indian A and India Under-19 teams before taking over as the head of the NCA.
"The amount of good players that are coming, the credit definitely goes to the BCCI, the way they have developed the infrastructure and pathway. India now has a strong supply line. Even more credit goes to Rahul Dravid, the way he is working as head coach at the NCA and the way he guiding u-19 players, India A and fringe players. There can't be a better role model or better mentor than Rahul Dravid," Jaffer remarked.
Team India will play three ODIs and T20Is each under the captaincy of veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan in Sri Lanka. There are many new faces in the squad with Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nitish Rana, K Gowtham, and Chetan Sakariya receiving maiden India call-up.
The limited-overs series will kick-off on July 13 and all the games will be played in Colombo.
